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River Rock Boot Tray

As the cooler weather approaches, I have been trying to attempt the winterizing of our home. I haven’t been in Indiana very long, so I’m starting early to make sure all of my bases are covered. It has quickly occurred to me that shoe storage is a much different monster here than it ever was in Florida or California. With all of the snow, ice, and sleet – shoes really take a beating; and that beating can easily transfer to your floors. That’s why I made these river rock boot trays!

With us being in a new home, I am a stickler for shoe removal. As soon as you walk in the house, you take off your shoes. It’s never been a big deal to me if there are mats at each door, or a specific place to put shoes. People just take off their shoes and put them somewhere near the doorway – that’s good enough for me. But, I realize that – with winter – comes cold, sopping-wet, snow-covered shoes! All of these dirt-tracking boots need a place to go. So, in our mudroom we have a boot tray. I’m pretty unaccustomed to boot trays, originating from Florida and all, but they seem like a brilliant idea…other than the fact that they are SO ugly to look at! I mean, really…but, I have to give props to the husband for getting one that is somewhat interesting at least. It has a nice scalloped{ish} border instead of just being a big plastic rectangle.

I was racking my brain trying to decide what to do with this boot tray to spruce it up. Spray paint was out because I thought it probably wouldn’t really hold up to the elements it would need to. While shopping at Garden Ridge one day, I spotted a bag of decorative river rocks. This was the PERFECT solution for my boot tray dilemma. I picked up three bags and raced home. All I had to do was dump the rocks in my boot tray.
*Instant beautification*

I am in LOVE with my boot tray now!!! The natural element the rocks bring is so nice in a boring utility/laundry/mud room. I debated for a while about gluing the rocks down, but I figured I’d leave them loose so I can easily clean the tray. Though, I think I might go ahead and secure them down because it might be easier to clean the boot tray without having to remove all of those heavy rocks!

*disclaimer: if you have a little child they WILL want to play with the rocks…and they WILL {most-likely} put them in your shoes…don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Though we haven’t gone through an official snow-test yet, we have had a few good rain days, and the rocks seem to be the perfect solution for my ugly boot tray dilemma. The nice thing is that the rocks allow water to drain to the bottom of the tray while keeping your shoes elevated. This way your shoes aren’t sitting in gross water/mud/yuck.

The other nice thing about my beloved boot tray, is that it really seems to help cut down on shoe-clutter. I cannot stand it when shoes are strewn all over the place! Since this room has to do triple duty {laundry room, mud room, and utility room} it is pretty much packed to the rafters. We have no space to be adding “shoe-storage area” to the list! I find myself allowing only the few pairs that will fit on my boot tray. That seems to be one pair each for the husband and I, and two for little man.

Of course, if you’re a larger family, feel free to bring in more boot trays! You don’t have to feel bad about having open shoe storage when it looks this good!

It might not be fancy, or expensive, but this is a really great way to spruce up a functional, yet boring household item!

Love this! Great idea, I don’t do ‘fancy’ or ‘expensive’ so this is right up my alley! Thanks for joining the fun at Keep Calm and Link Up! Make sure to come back next Friday to see if you were featured!